How to Help Pollinators: Simple Steps That Make a Big Impact

It's no secret that our valued pollinator pals are facing threats around the world that impact their ability to live and grow. Habitat loss makes it more difficult for pollinators to find home and shelter, impeding their pollination behaviors. Destructive pesticides harm beneficial bugs and are widely used in this country's crops. Finally, climate change significantly alters pollinator ecosystems, upending their ability to help grow our favorite foods and goods.  Read on to discover how you can help our pollinator friends in this ever-changing world! 

The Importance of Pollination

Pollination is the process where pollen is transferred from the male part of a flower ( the anther) to the female part (the stigma), which enables fertilization and the production of seeds and fruits. Pollination can occur through the movement of wind and water, but is mostly done by animals—most notably, pollinators such as bees, butterflies, birds, and bats. These pollinators are essential for the reproduction of over 75% of flowering plants and about 35% of global food crops. Common foods that rely on pollinators include apples, almonds, blueberries, cucumbers, and coffee!

Pollination not only supports food production but also plays a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity and healthy ecosystems. Many wild plants depend on pollinators for reproduction. Economically, pollination is vital to global agriculture, contributing an estimated $235–577 billion annually to the world food economy. A decline in pollinators threatens crops, food security, and the livelihoods of farmers.

Common Pollinating Insects

• Bees: the most famous and recognizable pollinators, bees have fuzzy and furry bodies that are perfect for picking up pollen. Bees alight upon flowers and pick up sticky pollen on their bodies and legs. Some species such as bumblebees "buzz" within the flower to get more pollen! Bees typically pollinate during the say and throughout the seasons of spring, summer and fall. They prefer bright colorful flowers.
• Butterflies: like bees, butterflies have fuzzy bodies that are excellent for picking up pollen. Their longer legs do not carry pollen as well as bee's legs do, and though they visit flowers more frequently, bees are better overall pollinators. Butterflies love flowers in clusters with large flat landing platforms. Like bees, they love bright colors!
• Moths: Moths play a powerful role in plant pollination, especially during the night time when other pollinators are not active. They are attracted to flowers with pale colors and strong fragrances. 
• Beetles: Our beetle buddies are among the first animals to ever pollinate plants. Beetles will eat their way through petals and other floral parts, gathering pollen unintentionally as they move between plants. They likely began pollinating long before bees ever did! Beetles love flowers that are bowl shaped, with strong scents that are open during the day, including many tropical species. 
• Flies: Though they can be annoying, flies are also contributors to pollination! Flies pollinate important crops like strawberries, onions and carrots. They are important contributors in cold climates where pollinators like bees and butterflies are less abundant. They also do more pollinating in the early season when bees are less active. 
• Wasps: Like bees, wasps love nectar. Though they aren't as good as pollinating as bees, as they have fewer body hairs that are not as branched, they are still important contributors. 

How to Make Your Yard Friendly to Pollinators

Now it's time to learn how to make your backyard a pollinator-perfect destination! 

Don't Rake Up Leaves or Clear Brush

Leaf litter and plant debris serve a very important function as shelter for pollinators during the cold winter months. You don't have to cover your entire backyard with it, but you can designate several spaces in the yard as "shelter areas" where a pollinator can take a break from the cold! 

Encourage Insect Hydration

Make sure these thirsty pollinators can get a drink by creating several "water stations" throughout your backyard.  Fresh water sources are vital for pollinating insects as they provide  hydration and help regulate body temperature, especially during hot, dry periods. Bees, butterflies, and other pollinators also use water to dilute stored honey, build nests, or aid digestion. Since natural water sources can be scarce or difficult to access, especially in urban or landscaped areas, gardeners can support pollinators by creating safe, shallow water stations. Ideas include filling shallow dishes or plant saucers with fresh water and adding pebbles, marbles, or floating corks to give insects a landing spot and prevent drowning.

Choose Native Plants

It's important to research native plants in your area to fully utilize the potential of your pro-pollinator space. Growing native plants in your yard or garden is crucial for supporting local pollinators, because these species have co-evolved over thousands of years to form mutually beneficial relationships. Native plants provide the specific nectar, pollen, and habitat needs that native bees, butterflies, and other pollinators rely on for survival. For example, the monarch butterfly depends on milkweed, a native plant, as the sole host for its caterpillars, while certain native bees are specialized to pollinate plants like lupines or sunflowers. 

Plan for Continuous Blooms

Succession planting is essential for year-round pollinator support, as it ensures a steady supply of nectar and pollen from early spring through late fall, aligning with the needs of pollinators throughout their life cycles. With a  seasonal bloom calendar, gardeners and land managers can strategically select and sequence plants to provide overlapping flowering periods. Early spring bloomers like willow, crocus, and native violets are vital for emerging bees and other pollinators coming out of winter dormancy. Mid-season plants such as bee balm, milkweed, and coneflowers sustain pollinators during the height of breeding and foraging activity. Late-season bloomers like goldenrod and aster are especially important for migratory species such as monarch butterflies and for bees preparing for overwintering. 

Provide Diverse Flower Shapes and Colors

Keep it colorful! Flower diversity is key to supporting a wide range of pollinator species, as different insects like different flower shapes, sizes, and colors. Flat, open flowers like daisies and zinnias provide easy landing pads and nectar access for butterflies, who prefer stable platforms for feeding. Tubular flowers such as penstemon or bee balm cater to long-tongued bees and hummingbirds that can reach deep into blossoms for nectar. Clustered flowers like yarrow or goldenrod allow efficient foraging by bees, helping them to collect nectar and pollen from multiple florets without using up too much energy. Color also plays a significant role in attracting pollinators: bees are drawn to blue, purple, and yellow flowers; butterflies favor bright reds and oranges; and moths and bats often seek pale or white flowers that are more visible in low light!

Create Nesting Sites

A diverse array of pollinators have varied nesting requirements.  Many native bees, such as mining bees, are ground-nesters that need access to bare, undisturbed soil free of mulch or turfgrass to dig their tunnels. Others, like mason and leafcutter bees, are cavity-nesters that seek out hollow stems or crevices in wood to lay their eggs. Providing natural stem habitats by leaving dead plant stalks standing over winter or offering bee hotels can support these species. Butterflies have entirely different needs—while adults feed on nectar, their caterpillars require specific host plants to survive; for example, monarchs depend on milkweed, while black swallowtails rely on plants in the carrot family like dill or parsley. 

Maintain Chemical-Free Zones

Pesticides, including insecticides and herbicides, can have devastating impacts on pollinators by harming not only pests but also beneficial insects like bees, butterflies, and predatory beetles. These chemicals are harmful when applied to blooming plants or during daylight hours, when pollinators are most active and likely to come into contact with treated surfaces or contaminated nectar and pollen. Even "natural" or "organic" pesticides can pose risks if not used carefully. Transitioning away from pesticide use involves adopting integrated pest management (IPM) practices, such as encouraging natural predators, using physical barriers, rotating crops, and selecting pest-resistant plant varieties. Handpicking pests, applying insecticidal soap during non-bloom times, and tolerating a small amount of cosmetic damage can all contribute to a healthier, more resilient garden ecosystem that supports pollinators rather than endangering them.

Beyond Your Backyard: Community Action

One person can make a big difference! Read on to discover how individual efforts can be amplified through community involvement and collective action. 

Join or Start Community Gardens

Community involvement can strengthen individual endeavors! Research your local communal garden(s), and if you can't find one you can always start it yourself! Ensure you know the correct process for creating garden spaces. You can even learn about native plants in your area and coordinate with fellow butterfly lovers to create a fluttery "butterfly corridor" through your environment!

Support Local Conservation Organizations

Volunteer with established conservation groups like The Nature Conservancy or the Xerces Society to participate in habitat restoration and pollinator monitoring projects! Connect with local environmental organizations through community gardens, nature centers, or regional conservation efforts to support grassroots initiatives. You can also advocate for pollinator-friendly policies by supporting native planting ordinances, and sharing knowledge through educational workshops. 

Getting Kids Involved 

The children are our future! Get the next generation involved in protecting pollinators through fun family-friendly activities that teach them about our natural world and their own responsibility to help it. 

Educational Activities

Provide kid-friendly learning activities that get children interested! Play pollinator identification games where they can identify pollinators based on their unique characteristics, like the fuzzy round body of a bee. Help them write a garden observation journal to track pollinators and their favorite plants. Teach them the importance of only planting native plants in their appropriate homes to ensure environment stability. 

Hands-On Projects

Have you ever heard of a "bee hotel"? Families can build these simple bee hotels using hollow stems or drilled wood blocks to provide nesting spots for solitary bees. You can also try planting pollinator gardens with native flowers to offer a fun, hands-on way to support bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Creating butterfly observation stations and small natural water features, like shallow dishes with stones, encourages wildlife visits and exciting observation opportunities!

Citizen Science Participation

Anyone can get involved in science! Families can participate in citizen science projects like the Great Sunflower Project or iNaturalist by observing and recording pollinator activity in their own backyards or community spaces. Taking clear photos of bees, butterflies, and other pollinators helps researchers to identify species and monitor their population numbers. Involvement in pollinator counts, such as during National Pollinator Week, contributes valuable data to ongoing scientific studies. 

Conclusion 

It's never too late to help our pollinator friends thrive in an increasingly-changing world! We hope this article has helped inspire you to become a true pollinator pal and spread awareness about our important friends. By cultivating a pollinator-friendly yard, spreading community involvement and educating children about their importance, you are assisting in the preservation of some of our most vital allies in the animal kingdom! 

Eager to get started? So are we! Check out our insect-raising kits to raise and  release your own pollinator friends, and don't forget to join our Pollinator Club to earn points and exciting rewards! Let's get ready to grow!